Openlands’ TreeKeeper Organization will speak about the loss of Ash Trees caused by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and what residents can do to help.

October 22nd, 7:00 PM

Main Branch of the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake Street near
Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park

CONTACT:  Julie Samuels, Openlands, 312/863-6256 or jsamuels@openlands.org                                       
www.openlands.org

Openlands’ TreeKeepers program is a Chicago institution and it’s coming to Oak Park!  Since the early 1990’s, Openlands has trained hundreds of urban residents through a 7- week TreeKeeper class series.  TreeKeepers have helped care for and plant thousands of  trees in parkways, boulevards and city parks.  Please come to learn more about what you can do as an Oak Park Resident to partner with TreeKeepers, the Village and the Forestry Commission in protecting our wonderful trees. 

At this meeting, TreeKeepers in Oak Park will launch an effort to gather acorns this fall.  The acorns will be used to start an “Oak Tree Nursery”, cultivating seedlings which will be planted in backyards and school yards all over the Village.  All Oak Park residents are invited to participate in this activity. 

In addition, Jim DeHorn, Openlands’ TreeKeeper Organizer, will provide information on the impending loss of our entire Ash Tree population and how we can prepare for that.  According to some authorities, the Emerald Ash Borer is expected to wipe out all species of Ash trees within 10 years.  

Jim will help us all to see for ourselves the kind of damage the EAB does.  Come and pick up a do-it-yourself EAB tattoo and literature that will enable us to spot the problem, report it and help slow the spread of EAB.  He will have specimens of both the larval and adult Emerald Ash borers.

Trees provide habitat, help clean the air and save energy.  They help ward off the threat of Global Warming, and they make our Village beautiful.  All Oak Park residents are invited to become part of this tree advocacy organization to “speak for the trees”.